Video and Article dealing with Authentic Coins of the Celts and Proto-Money Trading Tokens

Celtic tribes lived in a lot of areas on the fringes of the empires of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Romans and Greeks considered the Celts barbarians. But the fact is that the ancient Celts were the ancestors of the modern German, French, Swiss, Eastern European, British and other European cultures. The Celts paint a unique picture with the style of coins they used. They also used trading tokens or what can also be described as proto-money. What the Celts also did was issue their own coins in the styles of the Greek and Roman peoples of the time for trading purposes. This article with video deals with Celtic coins from their development, a bit about their history with many examples shown in an amazing video presentation. The coins shown and many more are available for sale.

Eastern Europe Celtic Tribes of the Danube Region Bronze Proto-money Trading Token of "Triskeles Money" 16mm x 17mm (5.06 grams) Circa 500-300 B.C. The ancient Celts used proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards, at least for trade between each other. This is called triskeles money because of it's shape and is a name that could be assigned to it. The ancient Celts would carry this type of money on a string around their body such as in a necklace fashion. A benefit to this type of money is that it allowed for a basic unit of exchange above barter, perhaps of a type recognized as money for a certain region. This allowed for the basic the benefits of money as it is used in today's world and the ability to have a flourishing free market economy. An important part of ancient history of money as it developed and progressed. Very rare type as most Celtic proto-money is what is known as "wheel money" or "ring money" along with second most plentiful being "bell money".

Eastern Europe Celtic Danube Region Bronze "Ring" or "Wheel" or "Roulles" money 25mm x 2mm (3.54 grams) Circa 500-100 B.C. The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards.

Eastern Europe Celtic Tribes of the Danube Region Bronze "Bell Money" 22mm x 19mm (6.60 grams) Circa 500-300 B.C. The ancient Celts used proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards, at least for trade between each other. This is called bell money because of it's shape and therefore there is no clapper inside as it was used for currency. The ancient Celts would carry this type of money on a string around their body such as in a necklace fashion. A benefit to this type of money is that they can be easily stacked and counted, and allowed for a basic unit of exchange above barter. This allowed for the basic the benefits of money as it is used in today's world and the ability to have a flourishing free market economy. An important part of ancient history of money as it developed and progressed.

Eastern Europe Celtic Danube Region Bronze "Ring or Wheel or Roulles" Proto-money or Trading Token 38mm x 4mm (7.30 grams) Circa 500-100 B.C. The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and perhaps even afterwards.

Eastern Europe Celtic Danube Region Bronze "Ring" or "Wheel" or "Roulles" money 23mm x 11mm (14.10 grams) Circa 500-100 B.C. The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards.

Eastern Europe Celtic Danube Region Bronze "Ring" or "Wheel" or "Roulles" money 23mm x 5mm (9.79 grams) Circa 500-100 B.C. The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards.

Celtic Tribe of Eatern Europe Making coins in style of Greek king Philip II - King of Macedon: 359-336 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm 25mm (13.53 grams) under unknown Celtic Tribe circa 300-200 B.C. Laureate head of Zeus right. Youth on horseback right. * Numismatic Note: The Celtic peoples would issue their own versions of the coins of their neighbors, such as the Greeks which have their own unique style to behold. Quality ancient Celtic coin. The Celts of Eastern Europe imitated ancient Greek coins of the time period, this one of Philip II. King Philip II of Macedonia was father of Alexander the Great and his coins referred to his Olympic victory. The reason they did this as they traded with the Greeks and their coins were popular and recognized for trade, so they struck their own. You can see the Cetlic style showing on this coin.

Celtic Tribe of the Danube Making coins in style of the Greek city of Thasos on Island in the Thracian Sea Silver Tetradrachm 32mm (16.57 grams) Struck by the Danubian Celts circa 148-50 B.C. Reference: S-215; BMC-Celtic-221; Lanz-967 Head of young Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy and with band across forehead. HPAKΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ - Hercules, naked, standing left, holding club, lion's skin over left arm; monogram in field to left. * Numismatic Note: The Celtic peoples would issue their own versions of the coins of their neighbors, such as the Greeks which have their own unique style to behold. Quality ancient Celtic coin. The Celts of the Danube imitated ancient Greek coins of the time period, this one of the city of Thasos in Thrace. The reason they did this as they traded with the Greeks and their coins were popular and recognized for trade, so they struck their own. You can see the Cetlic style showing on this coin. A rich and fertile island off the southern coast of Thrace, Thasos possessed prolific gold mines and had a controlling interest in many of the silver mines on the mainland.

Celtic Tribe of Gallia Cisalpina Silver Drachm 15mm (3.36 grams) Struck circa 2nd Century B.C. in the style of the Ancient Greek coins of Massalia Reference: De La Tour 2126 Head of Nymph right. ΜΕΣΣΑ, lion standing right. The Celts were interesting groups people who made their coins in the styles of the Greek cities and kings they were surrounded by to facilitate trade. Celtic coins have a unique artistic beauty of their own and the style is easily recognizable as they are more stylized than their Greek or Roman counterparts.

Veliocasses Paris Region Lead Wheel Money 22x7mm (1.62 grams) circa 80-50 B.C. Set of Three Uncut Wheel Money From an area North of Paris which was together with a group of Veliocasses bronzes. Three small, solid wheel money unclipped and still in the slightly curved shape of the mold. Very rare and perhaps "never to be seen again" type of item.